No state MP finds place in Modi Cabinet
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 26
Belying popular expectations, none of the MPs from Uttarakhand managed to make a cut as member of the dream Cabinet of Prime Minister Narinder Modi, constituted on Monday. Amid race for Cabinet berths among the MPs from different states, at least one MP elected on the BJP ticket was expected to find a place.

The former Union Minister for Surface Transport and newly elected BJP MP from Pauri-Garhwal BC Khanduri was expected to make a cut in the Modi Cabinet. For that matter even names of senior BJP leader Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank were also doing the rounds.

''Since the days of Vajpayee government, Uttarakhand was never overlooked when it came to nominating MPs for Cabinet berths. Our expectations had soared, as BJP had bagged all the five seats in the Lok Sabha elections and we were expecting that at least one of our MPs would find a place in the Cabinet. But we have been disappointed. However, it is the prerogative of the PM to take a call,'' said Teerath Singh Rawat, Uttarakhand BJP chief.

Former Union Minister for Highways BC Khanduri was said to be at a striking distance for booking a Cabinet berth, after it was indicated the new dispensation under Modi would give fillip to infrastructure in the country. He was responsible for successful running of the golden quadrilateral programme.

''Age factor may have gone against Koshiyari and Khanduri, as it was rumoured Modi would go for a relatively younger and a small sized Cabinet,'' said a senior BJP leader Since the creation of the state, senior BJP leader Bachi Singh Rawat was the first BJP MP to find a berth in Vajpayee-led NDA government after he was made Union Minister of State for Science and Technology in 1999. This was followed by appointment of BC Khanduri in 2003, who was made Minister of State with independent charge of Road, Transport and Highways in Vajpayee Cabinet. Later, the same year, he was made Cabinet Minister and served as Union Minister for Surface Transport.

This time around, none of the BJP MPs have found a place in the Cabinet. 

Chief Minister congratulates Narendra Modi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 26
Chief Minister Harish Rawat congratulated Narendra Modi, who was sworn in as India’s 15th Prime Minister this evening.

The CM said he could not attend the swearing-in ceremony due to the coming Panchayat elections in the state.

He expressed hope that the new government at the Center would extend all help to the Uttarakhand government to ensure all-round development.

Power cuts continue despite optimum electricity output 
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 26
At a time when turbines of state-run hydropower projects are generating electricity at its optimum level, residents are facing the brunt of unscheduled power cuts in the state. Among the worst sufferers are rural villagers, who are facing power cuts for nearly four to five hours in a day.

Officials said that state-run hydropower projects are generating 13 million units per day, and the power generation is likely to increase with the melting of Himalayan rivers in the coming days.

Residents lamented that power cuts were imposed for nearly six hours in Guru Teg Bahadur Road, Old Dalanwala, Luxmi Road, Nehru Colony, Haridwar Road, Dharampur and Kargi Chowk due to maintenance work on Sunday. The power supply was cut at feeders which include Araghar, Nehru Colony, Ajabpur, Haridwar Road, Raphael Home, PPCL, Parade Ground, Raipur, Lakhi Bagh, Race Course and Dhamawala.

Similarly, power cut was implemented for nearly three to four hours in Rajpur Road, Subhash Road, Hathi-Bar-Kala, Salawala, Dilaram Bazaar, Patel Nagar Saharanpur Road and adjoining areas on Monday. The power supply was again disrupted in different parts of Dehradun after witnessing thundershowers on Monday evening.

Talking to The Tribune, Managing Director of Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL) GP Patel said that hydropower projects are generating electricity at its optimum level in order to meet with the demand of electricity in the state.

“The power generation at Maneri Bhalli-II is halted due to ongoing work of renovation, modernisation and upgradation,” he said, adding that turbines of MB-II will restart in the first week of June.

After claiming that no scheduled power cut is implemented in any part of the state, an official spokesman of Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) said that repairing of lines and transformers is the regular feature in the department to strengthen power distribution system.

The latest data compiled by UPCL clearly highlighted that demand of electricity is nearly 34 million units against availability of 15 million units per day. The department is procuring electricity through tenders and open market to meet with the demand of electricity in the state.

UPCL will receive two million units of electricity in order to bridge the gap between demand and availability of electricity in the state on Tuesday. 

SI suspended as MLA sticks to parking whims
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 26
Sub-inspector Manmohan Singh Negi might not have imagined in his wildest dreams that he could be suspended for doing work expected from a duty-bound cop.

Suspension of the former in charge of Jakhan police post has once again brought to light rampant political interference in the working of the police in the state.

During his routine evening patrolling on Saturday, Negi spotted a car parked in a ‘no parking zone’ in front of a mall at Jakhan area.

The driver of the car, which was parked wrongly, was Madan Singh Bisht, Congress MLA from Dwarhaat, who was recently made a parliamentary secretary. Negi reportedly asked Bisht to park his car properly. Bisht apparently said he would remove his car only when his wife returned after she was done with her shopping.

The MLA contacted senior police officers after arguments between the two escalated. Meanwhile, another Congress MLA reached there and both reportedly threatened the police officer with dire consequences. Within an hour, Manmohan Singh Bisht was suspended.

The Dehradun SSP has been proffering the explanation that Bisht's argument with the MLA was not the sole reason for the suspension. The action has been taken for not registering an FIR for the last fortnight and misbehaving with people, he said.

The SSP has been defending the indefensible, claiming there was no political interference in the case. Officers from the level of SSP to DIG have refused to accept that they acted under pressure and Bisht was punished for performing his duty.

Requesting anonymity, a senior police officer said, “Such incidents send across a bad message to the police force and hold them back when it comes to performing their duties impartially. The Sub-inspector faced action for streamlining the traffic at peak hours, which is his duty. From now onwards, he and many others would think twice before performing their duties fearlessly.”

He added that police officers in Uttarakhand had to perform their duties under immense political pressure. Whims and fancies of the ruling party's politicians or local politicians determined police officers' postings, he said.

Ensure pilgrims are safe, CM tells DM
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 26
To review the arrangements and progress being made for the successful conduct of various pilgrimages in the state, Chief Minister Harish Rawat held a meeting with the officials of various departments involved in the repair works.

Instructing the concerned district magistrates, the CM said that all steps should be taken to ensure that none of the pilgrims get stuck at any of the religious places.

''The Char Dham Yatra would be developed on the steps of Vaishno Devi Yatra besides maintaining the sanctity and rituals of the pilgrimage. The villages such as Pulna and Bhyudar would be developed and rehabilitated like Kedarnath,'' said the CM who sanctioned the availability of eight trolleys, two bailey bridges and folding bridges for the smooth conduct of yatra.

Apart from this the CM also sanctioned the provision of two crusher machines to the Border Roads Organisation team that has been working on the Chamoli-Badrinath road. The PWD has also been asked to provide black cover on the road from Lambagad to Bainakulli.

Those present in the meeting included Harak Singh Rawat, Rajendra Bhandari and Sunil Kumar Meena along with several others.

Harish Rawat to visit Kedarnath on May 30

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat will visit Kedarnath shrine on May 30. He announced that relatives of labourers working for reconstruction work at Kedarnath shrine would get compensation of Rs 5 lakh in case of death, whereas next of kin of PRD, and home guard personnel would get compensation of Rs 10 lakh in case of casualty. He instructed officials to expedite development works in disaster-hit areas of the state.

While chairing a video conference with district magistrates of disaster-hit areas of the state, Chief Minister Harish Rawat instructed officials to identify location for setting up of Kedarpuri. He told officials to get consent of ministers before implementation of development works under project implementation unit at disaster-affected areas.

Rawat instructed officials to speed up for completing development works before the advent of monsoon in the state. He told officials to repair damaged potable water pipelines, and to ensure supply of potable water, even in higher parts of the state.

He told officials to complete reconstruction work under Varunawat package in Uttarkashi district of the state. 

BJP workers distribute fruits to patients

Mussoorie, May 26
BJP workers of Mussoorie Assembly segment distributed fruits to patients at Doon Hospital in Dehradun as Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister in Delhi today.

Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi, along with party workers from Mussoorie, reached Doon Hospital as soon as Narendra Modi was administered the oath to office as Prime Minister in Delhi.

He distributed fruits to the patients admitted in various wards of the biggest government hospital in the state.

Ganesh Joshi said on previous occasions, party workers had celebrated such events by bursting crackers and distributing sweets, but he thought of visiting the patients in the hospital and thanked them for their support. He wished them speedy recovery.

Chief medical superintendent RS Aswal, BJP local unit president RS Parihar, secretary Poonam Nautiyal, Aditya Chauhan, Sikandar Singh and others were present on the occasion. — TNS

CM wants effective single window system for better services
Tribune News service

Dehradun, May 26
The Chief Minister, Harish Rawat, has said that in order to provide better services to businessmen, single window system should be made more effective. This should be directly under the principal secretary. He has also asked them to take the services of established institutes for filing and monitoring. He was reviewing the system of providing facilities to small and medium scale industries at a meeting held here last evening

He has also given directions to develop a bamboo cluster in the state. In order to encourage handicrafts business, he has encouraged setting up of Hari Ram Tamta traditional handicrafts institute in Bageshwar. He has also given directions to develop an urban body in this connection in Dehradun and Nainital.

He sanctioned a sum of Rs 3 crore for fairs and publicity events and Rs 2 crore for handicraft events. He asked for providing all services and facilities to encourage new entrepreneurs and to attract others. He has given this responsibility to the principal secretary.

Present in the meeting were Harish Chandra Durgapal, Tourism Minister Dinesh Dhanai, Health Minister Surendra Singh Negi, MLA Shailrani Rawat, CS Subhash Kumar, SS Sandhu, Principal Secretary MH Khan and Additional Director, Industries, Sudher Nautiyal.

Max to offer super speciality services 

Dehradun, May 26
In the coming days Max Super Specialty Hospital plans to introduce kidney transplant, bone marrow transplant and radiation therapies at the hospital.

?Patients from Uttarakhand often travel to Delhi for specialised medical treatments due to non-availability of medical institutions offering such facilities here. To overcome the gaps, we would be shortly introducing these services at the hospital, said Prof AK Singh medical advisor while addressing a press conference today to mark the second anniversary of the hospital. He said the hospital was offering tertiary care services not only to the people of Uttarakhand but adjoining areas of Sahranpur, Roorkee, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.

Yesterday the hospital organised a free multi-specialty health camp and medical tests like ECB, blood sugar, and radiology services were offered. — TNS

Tipping fee issue of DMC remains unsolved
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 26
The issue pertaining to the revision of tipping fee being paid to the Doon Valley Waste Management (DVWM) by the DMC remain unresolved as officials failed to reach any conclusion during a meeting called by the District Magistrate-cum-Mukhya Nagar Adhikari here today.

Giving the details, Additional Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Harshvardhan Mishra said no decision was taken to revise the tipping fee. ?It would take some time before the final decision was taken and the rates were increased.

At present, the company was being paid Rs 350 per metric tonne for the garbage being collected by it from 10 wards,? he said.

The revision of rates was one of the main points of contention between the Dehradun Municipal Corporation and the DVWM when the latter had given a notice for the termination of 15-year-old contract.

While the company was demanding a hike of Rs 62 per metric tonne, the DMC had refused the same citing the MoU signed between both the parties.

At present, out of the 60 wards in the city, the DVWM is catering to 10 wards, including Arya Nagar, Jakhan, Karanpur, DL road, Dalanwala (ward numbers 25, 26, 27), Clock Tower, Dhamawala and Sahastradhara.

The remaining wards are being handled by the DMC.

Union leaders for reinstatement of dismissed school employee
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, May 26
Members of trade unions under the banner of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) raised slogans and held a sit in protest against Mussoorie International School management for allegedly dismissing an employee in Mussoorie today.

The affected employee had refused to work below his assigned task at the post of sanitary worker resulting in his ouster from the job by the school management.

Following that, workers from the school gathered at the school gates under the banner of AITUC and raised slogans against the management demanded his unconditional reinstatement. The SDM Mussoorie and Municipal Council officials tried to bring the two faction on the table but failed in their efforts.

Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALC) NC Kulashree also reached the demonstration site and tried to pacify both sides and asked them to solve the matter amicably but both sides did not budge an inch. The ALC said by tomorrow he would try to bring both sides to reach on an compromise.

The management of the school said they had dismissed the employee as per the laid down laws.

The workers have threatened to stop work at the school if the dismissed employee not reinstated. 

DM reviews pre-monsoon arrangements
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 26
To ensure a hassle free monsoon for the city residents, District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam convened a meeting of the officials from the disaster management committee and the pre-monsoon arrangements were reviewed.

The District Magistrate instructed the departments to complete the preparations in advance in order to avoid any untoward incident during the monsoons.

“The sub divisional magistrates and police station in charge should immediately report to the disaster emergency control room in case of water logging in the city. Also, a junior engineer from every department including, the Jal Sansthan Nigam, the Irrigation Department, PWD and the power will be present in the control room round the clock. The concerned junior engineer will immediately respond to any problem being reported in the control room,” he added.

Purushottam also asked the officials of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) to prepare and submit a list of places where the drains were blocked, within 10 days.

The list should also include the reasons behind the blockage along with the measures that will be taken to resolve the issue, he added.

He said stringent action would be taken against the officials, who failed to perform the duties assigned to them and if the area under them faces the problem of water-logging.

“The PWD Department should also appoint a JCB per division to tackle problem arising in the monsoons. The broken machines should be repaired immediately,” he added.

The Irrigation Department was asked to earmark the places in rural areas that suffer most during the monsoons. The SP city and rural were also instructed to make arrangements for divers and also provide their contact numbers to the emergency control rooms. Alok Kumar Pandey, Pratap Shah, Navneet Singh, Manikant Mishra and Deepshikha were also present at the meeting.

Protests across state over water crisis
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, May 26
On a visit to Kumaon region with the idols and palanquin of deity Jagdish Shila, Uttarakhand Potable Water Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani today faced tough opposition from the people in Berinag town. They were demanding sufficient drinking water supply.

As soon as the Jagdish Shila palanquin reached Berinag town from Bageshwar, the people gheraoed the minister accompanying the Doli. They demanded proper drinking water supply.

“While we are suffering problems relating to drinking water supply every day, the minister is busy riding the divine vehicle,” said Balwant Dhanik, resident of Naya Bazar of Berinag and a Congress worker.

The people said while with advent of summer, residents across the state in general and in the town of Berinag in particular were reeling under acute water shortage, the minister, for the past 23 days, was out moving with the doli of Jagdish Shila in Garhwal and Kumaon regions. “We are getting drinking water once in six days, for which the management of Jal Sansthan is wholly responsible,” said Dhanik.

According to sources from the Jagdish Shila committee, the minister will be pre-occupied till June 8 when the Jagdish Shila Doli Yatra will be completed.

“The minister is taking advantage of the political situation in the state. The Chief Minister is apparently not in a position to force him to look into the serious drinking water problem facing the state these days,” said Kishan Singh Bhandari, district president of BJP in Pithoragarh district.

The minister has said he is taking stock of problems of education and drinking water by visiting various parts of the state as part of Jagdish Shila Yatra. “Besides being a religious Yatra, the Jagdish Shila Doli Yatra is a way to understand people's problems at the ground level,” said the minister when contacted.

Samiti activists demand repair of water pipelines

Dehradun: Activists of the Keshar Jan Kalyan Samiti staged a protest at the Jal Bhawan office here today in protest against an acute shortage of potable water in the region.

The agitators have threatened to intensify the agitation if the department does not address their problem soon.

Under the banner of the samiti, the protesters gathered at Jal Bhawan, Nehru Colony, and raised slogans. The protesters said they had submitted several memorandums highlighting their demands to department officials, but the problem still continued in Majjri- Mafi, Vaibhav Vihar and the adjoining areas.

They said women were forced to cover several kms to get potable water.

They demanded that broken potable water pipelines be repaired and obsolete potable water pipelines be replaced. They also demanded the strengthening of the distribution system and a check on unauthorised potable water connections.

Residents of Garhi Cantt seek regular water supply

Residents from Dakra, Garhi Cantt, submitted a memorandum to executive officer of Cantt Board of Dehradun (Garhi Cantt) and demanded from effective steps for overcoming the problem of shortage of potable water in the region.

The agitators lamented that supply of potable water in ward number five was disrupted for the last one month. The agitators threatened to hit the roads if the Cantt Board did not take effective steps to overcome the problem of shortage of potable water in the region.

Among those present were Dinesh Kumar, Nirmala Devi, Chander Kala Thapa, Som Bahadur, Madhavi Thapa, Snehlata Sen and Rajendra.

Govt will complete its full term: Naithani
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, May 26
Drinking Water Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani has claimed that the Harish Rawat-led state government will complete its full term and it is being fully supported by the Progressive Democratic Front in the Assembly.

The minister was in the Kumaon region today.

When asked if his guru Satpal Maharaj asked him to withdraw support from the Rawat government, Naithani said he would never ask him to do so. "Satpal Maharaj has never given me wrong advice," he said.

On drinking water shortage in the region, Naithani said he had directed the department to send water tankers in the affected areas. "The funds have already been sactioned for the supply of sufficient drinking water this summer,"? said the minister.

On the issue of teachers' shortage in schools, the minister said the problem would be solved by July as they were recruiting more teachers.

Air Marshal on farewell visit to Nainital IAF station
Tribune News service

Dehradun, May 26
Air Marshal J Chauhan, Air Officer Commanding in Chief Central Air Command, Allahabad, came on a farewell visit to the Air Force station, Bhowali, Nainital ,yesterday. A highly experienced fighter pilot, he has over 3,500 hours of flying to his credit on various types of fighter, helicopter and trainer aircraft.

He is an alumni of the National Defence Academy and a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College in USA. In his illustrious 39 years of long service in Air Force, he has held many key appointments both in field units and Command Headquarters. He is a recipient of Param Vashisht Seva Medal, Ati Vashisht Seva Medal and Vashisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service of exceptional order. He has also been appointed as Honorary Air ADC to the President of India. He will be retiring on Jul 31, 2014.

The Air Marshal addressed air warriors of the Bhowali station emphasising core values of the Air Force and also thanked everyone for their dedication towards achieving the set goals during his tenure. His wife, Harminder Chauhan, president, Air Force Wives Association (Regional), Allahabad, accompanied him on the farewell visit. Group Captain S Ramanathan, Station Commander, Air Force station, Bhowali, thanked the Air Marshal and Mrs. J Chouhan for their guidance and unstinted support from Central Air Command during the past two years.

Cultural evening marks trekking camp
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 26
The week-long Central Air Command Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Regional) Children Summer Trekking Camp 2014 organised at Air Force Station, Bhowali, Nainital, concluded today. The grand finale was marked by a cultural evening put together by the participating children followed by a camp fire on Sunday.

Air Marshal J Chauhan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Central Air Command and Harminder Chauhan, president, Air Force Wives Welfare Association (Regional), Allahabad, attended the cultural evening along with senior service veterans and dignitaries from civil organisations.

Children showcased their budding talent through a captivating variety entertainment programme. Air Marshal Chouhan addressed the children at the trekking camp and motivated them to put to use the team spirit and camaraderie imbibed in them during the camp so that they could grow up as good citizens.

Children were taken on a trek to various places of tourist and educational interest in and around Nainital like China Peak, Cave Garden, Lariakanta, Aryabhatta Research Institute and Maheshkhan Forest during the week-long camp.

Harminder Chauhan gave away prizes to the winners in various categories and lit the camp fire to mark the culmination of the summer trekking camp 2014.

Group Captain S Ramanathan, Station Commander Air Force Station, Bhowali and Uma Ramanathan, president, AFWWA(L), appreciated the physical and mental courage displayed by the participating children in successful completion of the planned trekking events. He also thanked all the services and civil dignitaries for extending support during the camp.

Arya instructs officials to speed up pending works
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 26
Yashpal Arya, state revenue minister, instructed the department officials to complete all the pending works at the earliest.

While chairing a meeting of the Rural Engineering Service Department, Arya reviewed last three years performance of the department. He said Rs 120 crore was spent against the sanctioned amount of Rs 221 crore in 2011-12 whereas, Rs 141 crore was spent against the sanctioned amount of Rs 251 crore in the last financial year.

The officials said Rs 190 crore had been spent so far against the sanctioned amount of Rs 300 for various developmental works in the current financial year.

Highlighting the problems being faced by the department while completing development works, Chief Engineer BS Kadha said the department was facing acute shortage of engineers.

He said proposal had already been sent to the public service commission to fill the vacant posts in the department. Arya said a new division was made in order to complete all the pending development works in the given time frame.

Secretary (RES) CMS Bisht, superintending engineer, executive engineer, assistant engineer and other officials also attended the meeting.

CS reviews food security programme

Dehradun, May 26
Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar reviewed preparations for National Food Security Programme in the state through videoconferencing. District Magistrates were present. The CS said another videoconferencing would be held on May 31 to review cards being made for primary families. He said all cards should be made by May 31.

He directed DMs not to use model code of conduct in the wake of Panchayat polls as an excuse to not execute development work as programmes already implemented did not come under the same. — TNS

IEC van to raise awareness on harm from tobacco
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 26
To give fillip to the Tobacco Control Programme and generate awareness about the harmful effects of consumption of tobacco on health, Uttarakhand Health Minister Surinder Singh Negi today flagged off an IEC (Information in Education and Communication) van equipped with publicity material.

Speaking on the occasion the minister said the van equipped with publicity material would go from one place to another in Dehradun district, disseminating information about the harmful effects of tobacco.

“We have to focus on the implementation of the provisions of tobacco control programme and the make the law effective,” he said.

Dr KC Pant, nodal officer of the district tobacco control programme, said, "Rather than imposing punitive measure, our goal should be on educating masses against the use of tobacco. They should be encouraged to give up the habit of smoking and chewing of tobacco on their own volition. Since 2003, the law has been in place but people continue to consume tobacco.”

Those present on the occasion included Director General Health Dr GS Joshi, Dr RS Aswal, Principal Medical Superintendent of Doon Hospital, Dr Gurpal Singh Chief Medical Officer (Dehradun) and other senior medical officers.

Woman murdered by husband’s ‘friend’
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 26
A 37-year-old woman was allegedly murdered by her husband’s "friend" inside her house at Canal Road here today morning.

According to the Rajpur police, Sushila Verma used to stay at her house along with her husband and children. On Sunday night, her husband was not at home.

On Monday morning, Sushila was found murdered in her room. According to her children, one of their father’s "friend", Amit Chauhan, visited their house on Sunday night in their father's absence.

The children informed the police that Amit was a frequent visitor to their place. Sushila’s husband, Balbir Verma, is a labourer and has been out to Muradabad for work. Meanwhile, police raided Amit's house. He was not found there as he fled before police reached. Police said injury marks were found on Sushila's body.

Karamchari sangh elections

Mussoorie, May 26
Harendar Singh Rauthan and Bharat Singh Raunchela have been elected president and general secretary of the Uttarakhand Jal Santhan Karamchari Sangh, respectively.

The other office-bearers are Pramod Kumar vice-president, Ramesh Sharma joint secy, Sanjay Sharma organisation secretary and Mahaveer Prasad Nautiyal treasurer. Anil Bhatt, Dalbadhur, Deepak Jain, Deveshwar Prasad, Kusum Jugran, Rajesh, Vijay Singh Kumain, Bhupendar and Sunder Singh have been made executive committee members. — TNS

Jaipur XI beat North Eastern Railway
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 26
Jaipur XI defeated North Eastern Railway cricket team by 6 wickets in the ongoing 32nd All India Uttarakhand Gold Cup Cricket Tournament match played at Rangers College ground 
here today.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, North Eastern Railway displayed brilliant batting performance and scored 211 runs with Prashant Awasthi scoring highest 51 runs followed by Atul Sharma, who made 49 runs. For Jaipur XI, Abhijeet Tomar was the star as he picked 7 wickets for his team. During the chase, Jaipur XI did not find any difficulty in chasing down the target. Opener Ankit Lama made brilliant 42 runs while Robin Bist scored quick 84 runs and won the match for his team.

In the second match of the day, CWC Delhi cricket team trounced FCI Delhi by 23 runs. After being put into bat first, FCI Delhi made 217 runs in 40 overs with Chetan Sharma scoring highest 47 runs while Nitin Saini also played a cameo of 44 runs.

For CWC Delhi, Akash Sudan took 4 wickets while Gagan Sodhi fetched 2 wickets. While chasing the target, CWC Delhi got off to a good start with the opener Amit Beru making brilliant 42 runs while Sultan Ansari just took the game away from PCI Delhi with his brilliant knock of 66 runs. 

MH Khan: Give more loans to beneficiaries
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 26
A one-day 49th meeting of state-level bankers' committee was held to examine the performance of banks in the state. The chief guest in the function was Principal Secretary MH Khan, who urged bankers to lend more loans to beneficiaries. He said that state government is running various beneficiary schemes for the uplift of the weaker section of society.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary (Tourism), Umakant Panwar, said that the government is committed to improve tourism sector in the state. He said that lending more loans to villagers would help to see growth in tourism sector in the state.

General Manager of RBI Jyotsna, Chief General Manager of Nabard, CP Mohan, and many others were present.

Poll a success: Sampat
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, May 26
Chief Election Commissioner BS Sampat today said at Ramnagar that the Indian democracy further strengthened after the election for the 16th Parliament this year. The number of voters who took part in this election was more than the combined population of Europe and US, he said.

Talking to local mediapersons, he said this was the election which witnessed the highest participation of voters in polls that took place in independent India. During the course of this election, over 9 lakh polling booths witnessed the highest mobilisation of government employees to complete the process. This is the highest when it comes to mobilisation of employees in any part of the world,” said Sampat.

Use of logos on number plates banned

Dehradun, May 26
District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam issued a notification to ban the use of insignias and logos on the number plates by the private and commercial vehicle owners.

In a notification issued here, he said use of any other marking on the number plate other than the registration number was a punishable offence. — TNS